Rainy days.. that feel like they never end!

Yet again it is raining, I am stuck inside with 2 run down boys keeping nice and warm, religiously peering out the window hoping to see a mare in labor. We still have 3 more foals due to finish this season and this weather or there must be something in the air that is making the mares foal down late this season. Either way.. we are tired haha.

We are so lucky that things are not as bad as it is in other areas of Victoria with their floods!
Last week things we a bit touch and go at one stage, our property is 160yo and the house is built on the edge of a creek so as that creek kept rising up and up, we were thinking the house was going to get flooded but thankfully we didn't get another down pour and all of the water dispersed as quickly as it came. When this house was originally built, they definitely studied the layout of the property as when there is a flood the water does flow around the property (into our sheds) but at least the house has still remained dry. 

The creek getting awfully close to our house, it got a bit higher than pictured here before it started to go down.

Gladis the pet pig.. thought she would try go for a swim.. but sunk instead. she promptly turned back for the shallows

This side of our creek filled so much that it spilled over our bridge

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The second part of the introduction

Following on from our first blog introducing Matt, it is now my turn to introduce myself to the Sandy Creek Team. 
I am Jaimie, Matthew's wife and mother of our 2 beautiful boys Billie & Hunter.
My story is that of the girl that grew up with horses from day dot, as my mum was always working horses so I would watch from my playpen as she would work her horses, when I was of age, I joined Ballarat Pony Club the same club that my mum attended also as a teenager. Growing up mum & I would work together breaking and training horses & ponies, my payment when we would sell one of these horses or ponies... A brand-new toy of course! Living the dream, working ponies and stocking up on toys haha 

My first show on my pony Suzie standing alongside my mum

Playing dress ups at a Pony Club Christmas Breakup on my pony Twinkles

Doing some long reining on Sabrina a pony we were training

As years went on, I progressed through the levels at Pony Club competing in all disciplines from Novelties, Dressage, Eventing & Showjumping.
At 13 I was selected to represent Victoria at the Pony Club Nationals held in Toowoomba QLD on the Junior Dressage Team where our team placed 3rd. The week leading up to that big event I was also competing in States with my games team on the same pony that I was taking to QLD for dressage, he was a very talented pony, considering when we bought him, he was used as a mountain climbing pony! I owe Hamish a lot. 

Competing for my Primary School with Hamish

We worked our way up the levels, starting out as green as green and eventually getting to Grade 3 Eventing & Grade 1 Dressage together

Nationals - Junior Dressage Team

Soon my legs were too big so I started riding my thoroughbreds my 2 main horses were Scarlet & Angus. With these 2 magical horses I competed at top level Pony Club in Dressage & Eventing and transitioned away from Pony Club to EA. 
With these 2 horses I was on the Junior Eventing squads and competed almost every weekend travelling all across Victoria to do the Eventing circuit with many successes and fails along the way all shaping me to who I am now. 

Soon I was an adult and doing adulty things and my time for competition was slowing down as I started working. I did the 9 - 5 admin job for some time until I couldn't handle being locked inside and saw a position at Sovereign Hill in the horse department and the rest was history.
I was working there as a rider, riding through the streets, bringing horses up from the paddocks and learning all about the heavy horses. Soon Sovereign Hill hired some young fella to drive the horses and well now here we are haha

One of our first dates - thrown behind a team of 6 *I still think he was testing me*

Posing with Emma & Sage - Horses at Sovereign Hill I was lucky to work with

The Trek to Jeparit driving the Furphy Tank 140km up the Wimmera

Matt & I together coming from vastly different backgrounds have really complimented each other and helped to bring out the best in our stud (and each other as we are terribly competitive haha) we keep learning and growing, plus we are weirdos so it always keeps things fun. 
have so many plans and goals to work towards, it is all very exciting and we can't wait to keep sharing it all with you.  

Our first Clydesdale Show - Pictured with Sandy Creek Albert

Working together doing demos at an engine rally

Working the big girl 'Chook'

Bendigo Ag Show doing some long reining

More recent times, showing one of our Stallions at the Summer Show - Chocolyn Blackwatch

I can hear a little person waking up from his afternoon nap, so best I wrap this introduction up!
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I know lots of people are wanting us to do a blog on show preparation and tips etc we are a bit quiet this weekend but the following weekend we are booked for a wedding so I will allow the time to get pictures and videos of how we prepare our horses for that (washing, mane rolls, tail presentation) just to scratch the surface because really there is so much information!! But we have to start somewhere right! 

Until next time!